Barça could be bluffing over Neymar to appease Messi

Le Parisien claim Barcelona could be bluffing over their interest in Neymar in an effort to appease Lionel Messi, the club's captain and talisman.

Barcelona, still reeling from their loss against Athletic Bilbao on Friday night, refuse to give up on Neymar and will present a new offer to Paris Saint Germain this week despite the distance between what they are currently offering and what the French side want for the player according to Le Parisien.

PSG have accepted the idea of selling their star player to Barcelona in exchange for players. They are also demanding €100 million along with the inclusion of players - Coutinho and Dembélé sat atop their wishlist. Tuchel, the club's manager, and PSG, know Dembélé wants to stay at Barcelona as that option looks remote.

Barcelona could be bluffing over Neymar

The French publiation also speculate that Barcelona's directors are bluffing in an effort to appease Messi. The Argentine captain and leader of the team wants Neymar back in Barcelona and has applied pressure to make it happen. Barcelona would also like Neymar to publicly express his desire to wear the blaugrana shirt again.

People in Neymar's corner have been repeating this message since the start of May but the player himself has never said it. PSG have been saying that not only is Neymar part of the team but has a contract for three years and will stay if the right offer does not arrive.